Fitting device for ring

ABSTRACT

There is provided a fitting device for a ring including: a multi-turned coil made of a metallic wire, the coil having equal pitch and constant coil diameter; one stopper formed into a spherical body and provided at one end of the wire; and the other stopper formed into a spherical body and provided at the other end of the wire. The one and the other stoppers are made of metal. The one and the other stoppers are arranged so that when seen from an axis of the coil, the one stopper and the other stopper are arranged at an interval along a circumference of the coil and so that the one stopper is located in the vicinity of an end of a palm and the other stopper is located in the vicinity of a base of a finger.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The priority application Japan Patent Application No. 2010-268076 uponwhich this patent application is based is hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fitting device for a ring, by which aring having the size larger than the size of a finger is easily retainedto the finger.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, if the size of a ring is smaller than the size of afinger and thus the ring does not fit the finger, the ring can beenlarged using an expander. On the other hand, if the size of a ring islarger than the size of a finger, when such ring is put on the finger,the easily ring rotates and moves in the longitudinal direction of thefinger. Thus, there is a problem that such rotation and the displacementof the ring needs to be prevented.

One approach to solve the above-mentioned problem includes cutting andremoving a portion of a ring followed by welding the cut portion to formthe ring into suitable size. However, such approach requires advancedtechniques and skill as well as high cost in machining. Furthermore, anowner of the ring is often uncomfortable machining the ring itself usingthe above-mentioned approach especially if the ring is, for example, aremembrance of his/her family.

Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. S54-124795 disclosesanother approach to solve the above-mentioned problem without machiningthe ring itself. This conventional approach provides a coil spring as anadjusting member for a ring, or an adapting member for a ring, whichhelps the ring fit the smaller-sized finger properly. The adjustingmember for the ring described above is shown in FIG. 3. The adjustingmember is provided with a coil spring 101 and attachment portions 102,102 provided at both ends of the coil spring 101, respectively. The coilspring 101 has a large-diameter central portion adjacent to an innercircumferential face of a ring R, thus the coil diameter of the coilspring 101 is not constant. The attachment portion 102 corresponds to asmall-diameter end portion of the coil spring 101.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved

However, the above-mentioned adjusting member for the ring has problemsthat: a) when a finger is inserted into the ring R having the adjustingmember mounted thereto, since the coil diameter of the coil springbecomes smaller as it gets towards the both ends thereof, thesmall-diameter portion is strongly wound around the ring R and thus doesnot move with respect to the ring R. As a result, a) the adjustingmember presses against a finger joint, b) the friction between a surfaceof the ring R and the small-diameter portion which is wound stronglyaround the ring R causes a scratch on the ring R, and c) since thecentral portion of the adjusting member has the diameter larger thanthat of the end portions thereof, it adversely affects the aestheticappearance of the ring R.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-describedproblems.

In other words, an object of the present invention is to provide afitting device for a ring which can be easily mounted to the ring, whichcan prevent the rotation of the ring as well as the displacement of thering in the longitudinal direction of the finger without fixing thespring coil to the ring, which can prevent application of the pressureto a portion of the finger between a base of the finger and an end of apalm at which the ring is located, which can prevent causinginflammation at the base of the finger and at the end of the palm, whichcan prevent causing the scratch on the surface of the ring, which doesnot adversely affect the aesthetic appearance of the ring, and which canbe manufactured at low cost.

Solution to Problems

In order to attain the above objective, the present invention provides,in a first aspect, a fitting device for a ring having: a multi-turn coilhaving an equal pitch and having a constant coil diameter, the coilbeing made of a wire; one stopper formed into a spherical body andprovided at one end of the wire; and the other stopper formed into aspherical body and provided at the other end of the wire, wherein thewire, the one stopper and the other stopper are made of metal, whereinwhen seen from an axis of the coil, the one stopper and the otherstopper are arranged at an interval along a circumference of the coil,so that the one stopper is arranged to be located in the vicinity of anend of a palm and the other stopper is arranged to be located in thevicinity of a base of a finger.

In order to attain the above objective, the present invention provides,in a second aspect, the fitting device described above, wherein the onestopper and the other stopper are arranged such that an angle θ betweena first line, the first line connecting a center of the one stopper anda circumferential center of a turn at one end of the coil, and a secondline, the second line connecting a center of the other stopper and acircumferential center of a turn at the other end of the coil, issubstantially right angle.

In order to attain the above objective, the present invention provides,in a third aspect, the fitting device described above, wherein the metalconstituting the wire, the one stopper and the other stopper isstainless steel.

In order to attain the above objective, the present invention provides,in a fourth aspect, the fitting device described above, wherein the wireand the one and the other stoppers are coated with material selectedfrom the group consisting of gold, rhodium and platinum.

Advantageous Effect of the Invention

According to the first and the second aspects of the present invention,the rotation of the ring and the displacement of the ring along thefinger can be prevented without fixing the coil to the ring.Furthermore, the present invention prevents applying pressure againstthe portion of the finger between the base of the finger and the end ofthe palm at which the ring is located, prevents the inflammation at thebase of the finger and at the end of the palm, and prevents causing thescratch on the surface of the ring. Furthermore, the fitting deviceaccording to the present invention does not adversely affect theaesthetic appearance of the ring and can be manufactured at low cost.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the wireand the stoppers are made of stainless steel, the coil is provided withsuitable elasticity. Consequently, the displacement of the ring can beprevented even more effectively, as well as the application of pressureagainst the portion of the finger between the base of the finger and theend of the palm at which the ring is located. Furthermore, the fittingdevice is arranged so as not to adversely affect on the aestheticappearance of the ring.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the wireand the stoppers are coated with gold, rhodium or platinum, the fittingdevice can be more suitable as a decorative part of the ring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a front view showing a fitting device for a ring according toone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a side view showing the fitting device seen from an axialdirection of a coil indicated by an arrow A shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A is an illustration showing a ring with the fitting device put ona finger and showing a base of a finger and an end of a palm;

FIG. 2B is an illustration showing the ring of FIG. 2A and showing anend of a back of the palm and a base of a back of the finger;

FIG. 3A is a front view of a conventional adjusting member for a ring;and

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a ring mounted with the conventionaladjusting member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is described below in reference with the attacheddrawings.

FIG. 1A shows a fitting device 10 for a ring according to the presentinvention. The fitting device 10 is provided with a coil (spring coil)1, one stopper 2 and the other stopper 3. The coil 1 is a multi-turncoil made of a wire 1 c. The coil 1 has an equal pitch and a constantcoil diameter. The one stopper 2 is formed into a spherical body and isprovided at one end 1 a of the wire 1 c, and the other stopper 3 isformed into a spherical body and is provided at the other end 1 b of thewire 1 c. As shown in FIG. 1B, for the fitting device 10 describedabove, the wire 1 c and the one and the other stoppers 2, 3 are made ofmetal. The one stopper 2 and the other stopper 3 are arranged at aninterval D along a circumference of the coil 1 when seen from an axis ofthe coil 1 (seen from a direction indicated by an arrow A shown in FIG.1A). Furthermore, the one stopper 2 is arranged so as to be located inthe vicinity of the end of the palm, and the other stopper 3 is arrangedso as to be located in the vicinity of the base of the finger.

For the above-described fitting device 10, the number of turns of thecoil 1 is 5.5, in which the coil 1 is arranged to have equal pitch andthe coil diameter is constant throughout the plurality of coil turns.However, the number of the coil turns may be greater than or less than5.5 since the size of a finger differs among individuals, sexes orracial groups. The term “coil diameter” is herein defined as a diameterof a circle formed by the turned wire 1 c seen from the axis of the coil1, as shown in FIG. 1B. Also, the term “pitch” used in “the coil 1 isarranged to have equal pitch” is herein defined as an interval betweenadjacent loops of the wire 1 c forming the coil 1. According to thepresent invention, the coil diameter of the coil 1 is preferably about 5mm, and the pitch of the coil 1 is preferably about 2 mm. However, thecoil diameter may be greater than or less than 5 mm, as well as theinterval between the adjacent coils may be greater than or less than 2mm, since the size of a finger differs among individuals, sexes orracial groups as mentioned above.

The “interval D” described in “the one stopper 2 and the other stopper 3are arranged at an interval D along a circumference of the coil 1 whenseen from an axis of the coil 1” is herein defined as an intervalbetween the one stopper 2 and the other stopper 3 assuming the one andthe other stoppers 2, 3 are on the same plane, as shown in FIG. 1B. Inaddition, the term “interval D” is herein defined as an interval betweenthe one stopper 2 and the other stopper 3 when the one stopper 2 and theother stopper 3 are located at the end of the palm and at the base ofthe finger, respectively. In such manner, under the situation of “theone stopper 2 and the other stopper 3 are arranged at an interval Dalong a circumference of the coil 1 when seen from an axis of the coil 1(seen from a direction indicated by an arrow A shown in FIG. 1A)”, aline connecting a center of the one stopper 2 and a center of the otherstopper 3 intersects with the axis of the coil 1 at a slant.

According to the present invention, the fitting device 10 is providedwith the multi-turned coil 1, in which the coil 1 is arranged at equalpitch and has a constant coil diameter. Thus, the fitting device 10, orthe coil 1, is mounted to the ring by rotating the coil 1, and afterthat the ring with the fitting device 10 is put on the finger.Alternatively, the ring can be put on the finger first and then thefitting device 10, or the coil 1, can be mounted to the ring by rotatingthe coil 1. In such manner, the fitting device 10 according to thepresent invention can be applied to the ring easily.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, when the ring mountedwith the fitting device 10 is put on the finger, the fitting device 10engages with a recessed portion between the base of the finger and theend of the palm, and the one stopper 2 and the other stopper 3 arelocated in the vicinity of the end of the palm and in the vicinity ofthe base of the finger, respectively. Consequently, the rotation of thering as well as the displacement of the ring along the longitudinaldirection of the finger can be prevented.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the coil 1 of thefitting device 10 is arranged to have equal pitch and the constant coildiameter. Consequently, the coil 1 evenly contacts with the portionbetween the base of the finger and the end of the palm at which the ringis located. In addition, the coil 1 of the fitting device 10 allows thefinger to slightly move in the circumferential direction of the ringwith respect to the fitting device 10, preventing the fitting device 10from pressing against the portion between the base of the finger and theend of the palm.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, each of the one stopper2 and the other stopper 3 is formed into a spherical body. Consequently,even if a hand, i.e. the finger and the palm, is moved in variousdirections, the one stopper 2 and the other stopper 3 act in a directionperpendicular to a contact surface between the one and the otherstoppers 2, 3 and the finger or the palm without interrupting themovements of the hand, Thus, the rotation of the ring can be preventedas well as the displacement of the ring along the longitudinal directionof the finger. Furthermore, the present invention can prevent causinginflammation in the vicinity of the base of the finger and in thevicinity of the end of the palm by the one end 1 a of the wire 1 c ofthe coil 1 and the other end 1 b of the wire 1 c of the coil 1.Furthermore, the present invention can prevent the scratch on thesurface of the ring caused by the one end 1 a of the wire 1 c of thecoil 1 and the other end 1 b of the wire 1 c of the coil 1.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the fitting device 10includes a coil 1 having an equal pitch and a constant coil diameter,the one stopper 2 foamed into the spherical body and the other stopper 3formed into the spherical body. Consequently, the fitting device 10itself can serve as a decorative part of the ring, thereby preventingadversely affecting the aesthetic appearance of the ring.

According to the above description, there is provided the fitting device10 for a ring including: the coil 1 made of the wire 1 c having an equalpitch and a constant coil diameter; the one stopper 2 formed into thespherical body and the other stopper 3 formed into the spherical body,wherein the wire 1 c and the stoppers 2, 3 are made of metal, in amanner such that when seen from the axis of the coil 1, the one and theother stoppers 2, 3 are arranged at the interval D along thecircumference of the coil 1, so the one stopper 2 is located in thevicinity of the end of the palm and the other stopper 3 is located inthe vicinity of the base of the finger. Consequently, the fitting device10 according to the present invention can be easily mounted to the ring,can prevent the rotation of the ring as well as the displacement of thering in the longitudinal direction of the finger without having thespring coil 1 fixed to the ring, can prevent applying pressure againstthe portion of the finger between the base of the finger and the end ofthe palm at which the ring is located, can prevent the inflammation atthe base of the finger and at the end of the palm, can prevent causingthe scratch on the surface of the ring, can prevent adversely affectingthe aesthetic appearance of the ring, and can be manufactured at lowcost.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the metal constitutingthe wire 1 c and the stoppers 2, 3 may be stainless steel, the springcoil 1 can be provided with the suitable elasticity. Consequently, thepresent invention can prevent the displacement of the ring with respectto the finger even more, as well as the application of pressure againstthe portion of the finger between the base of the finger and the end ofthe palm at which the ring is located. Furthermore, the fitting device10 can prevent adversely affecting the aesthetic appearance of the ring.

In the present invention, the wire 1 c and the stoppers 2, 3 may becoated with gold, rhodium or platinum. Consequently, the fitting device10 can be more suitable as a decorative part of the ring.

1. A fitting device for a ring comprising: a multi-turn coil having anequal pitch and having a constant coil diameter, the coil being made ofa wire; one stopper formed into a spherical body and provided at one endof the wire; and the other stopper formed into a spherical body andprovided at the other end of the wire, wherein the wire, the one stopperand the other stopper are made of metal, wherein when seen from an axisof the coil, the one stopper and the other stopper are arranged at aninterval along a circumference of the coil, so that the one stopper isarranged to be located in the vicinity of an end of a palm and the otherstopper is arranged to be located in the vicinity of a base of a finger.2. The fitting device according to claim 1, wherein the one stopper andthe other stopper are arranged such that an angle θ between a firstline, the first line connecting a center of the one stopper and acircumferential center of a turn at one end of the coil, and a secondline, the second line connecting a center of the other stopper and acircumferential center of a turn at the other end of the coil, issubstantially right angle.
 3. The fitting device according to claim 1 or2, wherein the metal constituting the wire, the one stopper and theother stopper is stainless steel.
 4. The fitting device according toclaim 1 or 2, wherein the wire and the one and the other stoppers arecoated with material selected from the group consisting of gold, rhodiumand platinum.
 5. The fitting device according to claim 3, wherein thewire and the one and the other stoppers are coated with materialselected from the group consisting of gold, rhodium and platinum.